Team Chaotix - The Case of The Missing Dogs

Chapter 6

Wednesday, 8:05 AM: 26 hours left to pay the electric bill;

After a quick breakfast the next morning, Team Chaotix returned at the Station Square Animal Shelter, still quiet and somber from the other night's tragic event. The news of shelter dogs getting stolen spread like wildfire throughout the city. The trio noticed the shelter staff were bringing in boxes filled with donated pet food, treats, toys, leashes, harnesses, kitty litter, blankets, and much more. It made them smile, knowing that there was some good in the world even though it can be filled with hate and sorrow. Holly and her team were excited and hopeful when they saw Team Chaotix, but when they were told about their slow progress and that Eggman wasn't the thief, they were left disappointed.

"Do you know who it is then?" Asked a worried Holly.

Vector bit his tongue, if he was to say it's someone they don't know, or don't even have records on, it'll cause the shelter staff to panic and think for the worse. He needs them to have a collective mind as much as possible despite the troubled situation.

"Well, before we think of anyone else, we as Team Chaotix believe it's best we look for some more clues." He replied, trying keep a low-key tone. "You wouldn't mind if we have another look around?" 

"No, of course you can." Replied Swift. "We haven't cleaned anything until we have your approval."

So they went back to the large dog kennels and still, things have looked the same since the other day. 

"This time boys, we're gonna look at this crime scene carefully and slowly." Commanded Vector.

For the next hour, they spend looking at every nook and cranny of the kennel. Charmy examined for evidence in the air while Vector and Espio surveyed the ground. When they were still gathering nothing, Espio had an idea: "Vector, what if we carefully clean all this glass? It'll be safer for us to work and I was thinking, what if there's shoeprints underneath it all?" He suggested.

Vector didn't think of that, he wished he did sooner. He didn't want to see harm to him or his team the more they were around the debris, and it seemed likely that Espio had a point, the evidence they can't look for is hidden well, like a treasure chest deep in sand.

"Yea, you're right. Grab a brush pan and we'll try to find something. But remember, be careful." Vector said.

After some thoughtful sweeping here and there, Espio's hunch was right; there were over a dozen of unsystematic shoeprints in two sizes; big and small.

"Wow, it was actually two people this whole time!" Charmy said.

The trio was flabbergasted at their discovery. The cams showed only one person was stealing the dogs, but because of the thick looming smoke, it made it impossible to know if anyone else was involved. However, the two different shoe sizes told another story, the one they were looking for also had an accomplice.

This got the trio excited, they knew this was their break. Feeling greatly hopeful about this, Vector ran to his vehicle and grab a measuring tape. He promptly returned and measured the shoe prints.

"This one is a size 34, and the other a size 28." Vector concluded. He brought attention to Espio and Charmy about a certain detail from the prints.

"You see here, the big shoeprints have wide square marks, and the one a few inches from it is another identical print with the same markings."

"Also, for the smaller shoe print, it has an oval mark in the middle, and it matches with the other smaller prints as well." Said Espio as Charmy flew away insisting there was more evidence to discover.

"Espio, I feel this is going to navigate us in a better path than before." Vector confidently said.

"Hey! Look what I found!" Charmy shouted.